That's an interesting hypothesis and seems to make sense. I was also wondering why he would pardon people who were never arrested or detained. Felt a bit dystopian thought crime-esque, but there's likely some sort of logic behind it.

> I was also wondering why he would pardon people who were never arrested or detained. Felt a bit dystopian thought crime-esque, but there's likely some sort of logic behind it.

The logic is preventing you from being arrested tomorrow for your use last month. If he only pardoned those who were already arrested and/or convicted there would be nothing stopping the prosecution of people who just hadn't yet been arrested.

It could also have something to do with military recruitment and passing background checks in advance of a possible recruitment surge for conflict between US and China.

I don't think these positions exist anymore. The CIA says no use 3 months before employment, FBI, Secret Service, NSA are 1 year.